Kate Manning Ordine dei libri (cronologico)

“Immersive…awe-inspiring.” —The New York Times “An epic story of love, hope, and perseverance.” — #1 New York Times bestselling author Christina Baker Kline This “stellar read” (Los Angeles Times) follows an unforgettable young woman who bravely exposes corruption in early 1900s Colorado. Sylvie Pelletier narrates her journey from her family's snowbound mountain cabin to working in a manor house for the Padgetts, owners of the marble-mining company that employs her father. Captivated by the luxurious surroundings and her enigmatic employer, the charming “Countess” Inge, Sylvie is also intrigued by Jasper, the bookish heir. However, her fairy-tale notions shatter as she uncovers the stark contrast between the Padgetts’ lofty ideals and their exploitative labor practices. The Gradys, formerly enslaved people, are planning a utopian community, while the town of Moonstone is rife with discontent, fueled by a handsome union organizer and labor leader Mary Harris “Mother” Jones. A bold newspaper editor takes Sylvie on as an apprentice, challenging her to confront the truth about the Padgett Company. As winter brings tragedy, Sylvie must navigate conflicting loyalties and decide to take action. Drawing from true Colorado history, this tale captures a bygone American West marked by ambition, longing for self-expression, equality, and adventure.

Exquisitely written and richly detailed, this novel is a marvel. Kate Manning's rags-to-riches saga vividly portrays nineteenth-century New York City, showcasing both its squalor and opulence. The story introduces Axie Muldoon, a fiery heroine whose journey begins on the streets of 1860s New York as the impoverished child of Irish immigrants. She rises to become one of the wealthiest and most controversial women of her time. In vivid prose, Axie recounts her forced separation from her family, her apprenticeship to a doctor, and how she and her husband transform the sale of "Lunar Tablets for Female Complaint" into a thriving midwifery business. Defying convention and the law in the name of women's reproductive rights, Axie ascends from grim tenements to a Fifth Avenue mansion, accumulating wealth while learning to distrust men who say "trust me." As her services attract scandalous headlines, Axie faces off against Anthony Comstock, founder of the Society for the Suppression of Vice. It takes all her cunning to outsmart him and protect her freedom. Inspired by the true history of an infamous female physician dubbed "the Wickedest Woman in New York," this narrative is a mystery, family saga, and love story, offering a detailed portrait of nineteenth-century America through Axie's haunting and enlightening voice.